WHEN PRAGUE-BASED DUO JAROSLAV AND MAREK DECIDED TO LAUNCH THEIR NEW VENTURE, VECTOR ROWING LTD, WITH THE AIM TO BRING THE BEST OF GLOBAL ROWING BRANDS TO THE EUROPEAN MARKET, THEY KNEW THEY HAD TO GET SLR ON BOARD.
SLR’s newest partners combine backgrounds in sports science, rowing, and composite materials, and they’re based in a city where rowing has been part of the sporting fabric for over 150 years. It’s the perfect foundation to bring SL Racing into one of Europe’s most exciting rowing markets and beyond.
We caught up with Jaroslav and Marek to hear their take on the SLR difference and what they’re building toward.
What is your background with rowing?
I have a lifelong connection to rowing that runs in the family — my father was a rower (Olympic medalist from the Montreal Games), and naturally, I followed in his footsteps. I had decent success as a national athlete, even with some promising moments on the international scene at an early age, and spent some years in the national team. After COVID, I transitioned into a coaching position, which led to a sports science position, which led to a sports data science position. All of those were always tied to rowing and my involvement in academia. Marek, on the other hand, came into the rowing world quite late — his sporting roots are in cross-country cycling, where he competed quite successfully, especially in the 24h racing format. He got involved in rowing in his early thirties because of his friends and his girlfriend. Now he enjoys rowing as an alternative to his cycling activities and also competes in the master’s and senior categories.
How did your relationship with SL Racing come about?
It was quite a coincidence. We had been thinking of starting such a company for quite some time, but there were also other projects and endeavours going on for both of us. Then, at the end of 2025, something clicked for both of us, and we just said now is the time. I went to the UK and met with Gavin from SLR to see and test one of the few SLR boats on the continent, and I loved the boat. Since there was no EU distribution at that time, we simply got the conversation started — and here we are.
What will your role be for SL Racing?
We are going to try our best to make the boats available for purchase in the EU. We will take care of the intercontinental logistics, provide service and maintenance, and offer advice on purchase and set-up.
What is your opinion of SL Racing boats?
I remember seeing Emma at the Olympics rowing in this boat that no one in our part of the world had really heard about. That was the first time I looked up SLR. The first chance I had to test the boat was at the end of 2025. The boat is well-made — everything simple but purposeful and functional, minimalist in a way. At first glance, I wasn’t particularly blown away; everything was great, but great was my default. I’d been in the national team for some time, and good boats were the default. I was, however, blown away once I took it out on the water. It’s something very difficult to describe, but it feels incredible to row — easy to handle, and it reacts exceptionally well. It needs to be experienced, really. I encourage everyone to try it for themselves.
“I’ve rowed in a lot of boats before, the best ones out there, but I remember coming back with a huge smile.” – Jaroslav
What is their main point of difference from other boat designers/manufacturers?
For me, it comes down to that rowing feeling more than anything else. A lot of brands will happily talk numbers all day — stiffness, weight, hull data — but with SLR, you don’t need any of that, the boat speaks for itself the moment you’re on the water. The design itself is simple and minimalist, nothing flashy, everything built with a clear purpose. It’s the way it reacts that puts it on another level compared to anything else I’ve rowed. To give something to think about, even for those who are financially conscious, you will be getting S-tier performance in a much more affordable package.
What was the main driver for you wanting to represent SL Racing in your country?
The European market is saturated with a few dominant brands, and we felt it was becoming stagnant and somewhat boring. Rowers here deserve access to the absolute best engineering the world has to offer, not just what’s logistically convenient. Testing the SLR boat confirmed that, for us, it offers something European athletes are currently missing out on entirely.
What are your goals for SL Racing in your part of the world in the coming months/years?
In the coming months, our primary goal is to get people into the seats — for us, that means getting a few shells in here. SLR is still unknown in our part of the world, and we need to change that. We’re establishing a solid demo-boat fleet and a reliable European service and spare-parts hub to eliminate any fears around intercontinental logistics or maintenance. Looking further ahead, we want to establish SL Racing as a premium, highly respected alternative for ambitious clubs, masters, and elite national athletes across the EU.
